BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — Lawyers representing Exeter Hospital and patients who believe they were infected with hepatitis C by a former cardiac lab worker are meeting in Rockingham County Superior Court.

The hospital faces more than two dozen civil lawsuits regarding David Kwiatkowski, who is accused of stealing painkiller syringes from its cardiac catheterization lab and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his own blood. In jail since his arrest in July, he pleaded not guilty to 14 federal drug charges in December and is expected to go to trial next fall.

The hospital has denied liability and says it was not responsible for Kwiatkowski's behavior. Friday's hearing is being held to set up pre-trial deadlines for various court filings.